An eight-year-old with hair that could give Rapunzel a run for her money has just had a very expensive haircut – but it is all in the name of charity.

Emily Bentwood, who lives in Totteridge, chopped 12 inches of her hair off to make a wig for a child who lost their hair during cancer treatment for the Little Princesses Trust.

She is also raising money for Camp Simcha, the charity which has been supporting her family throughout her old brother’s illness.

Sammy, 11, has a rare and incurable bowel disease, which means he has to be fed through a tube and is in constant pain.

But for the last four years, Sammy, his twin brother, Joshy, Emily and their parents, Sara and Jonny, have been supported by the Hendon-based charity.

Friends and family donated £3,100 to see Emily get her haircut.

She said: “I've always had long hair so I was a bit nervous about having it cut but I wanted to help make things a bit better for a child who has cancer.

“My grandpa suggested doing it to raise money for Camp Simcha too and I thought that was a really good idea because they have done so much for my family.

“We go to Camp Simcha retreats every year, which are so much fun. I have my own 'Big Sister' - and Sammy has one too - and they come and see us every week and do lots of fun things.

Camp Simcha supports families across London, including Enfield, who have seriously ill children. They hold activity sessions and camps to help give families and siblings a much-needed respite.

Her hair was cut by a hairdresser at the Trevor Sorbie salon, in Covent Garden, free of charge.

Mum Sara said: “Emily has grown up having a sick brother so she's more thoughtful and considerate as a result. She doesn't take anything for granted.

“She has met other children at Camp Simcha events who have lost their hair because of chemotherapy so although she was very attached to her hair she wanted to do this because she knows what it could mean to another little girl.

“We then decided to sponsor the haircut as well to raise money for Camp Simcha and also for The Little Princess Trust

“We all loved the idea of that because Camp Simcha has done so much for us and this is our opportunity to give back.”

Chief executive of Camp Simcha Neville Goldschneider said: "It is wonderful that Emily is doing this to help other children who are not well. She is a very grown-up eight-year-old who knows that she can make a real difference to another child. We are very proud of her and really grateful for the money she is raising."